Composite container for shipping and packaging



April 10, 1962 Y H. MEMBRINO COMPOSITE CONTAINER FOR SHIPPING ANDPACKAGING Filed May 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FlGiL INVENTOR. HERMANMEMBRINO ATTORNEYS April 10, 1962 H. MEMBRINO 3,029,008

COMPOSITE CONTAINER FOR SHIPPING AND PACKAGING Filed May 29, 1958 sSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HERMAN MEMBRINO ATTORNEYS April 10, 1962 H.MEMBRINO COMPOSITE CONTAINER FOR SHIPPING AND PACKAGING Filed May 29,1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7

FIG. 8

INVENTOR. HERMAN ME MBRI NO gt v FIG. IO

7 ATTOR EYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,029,008 Patented Apr. 10, 19627 3,029,008 COMPOSITE CONTAKNER FOR SHIPPING AND PACKAGING HermanMemhrino, Springfield Road, Broomall, Pa- Filed May 29, N58, Ser. No.738,784 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-14) My invention relates to containers forshipment and/ or packaging of liquids, powders and granulars such aspaints, oils, grease, sugars, starches, food and chemical products, andmore particularly relates to a composite container of a carton and linercombination for the purpose of making the combination liquid-proof,dust-proof, moisture-proof, and vapor-proof.

My invention may be applied to steel shipping drums, fiber containers,cartons and plastic vessels wherein a flexible liner of plastic materialsuch as polyethylene is incorporated as an integral part of anencapsulating casing. I

In the past composite shipping containers have been fabricated whereinan outer body or casing constructed of reinforced paper board,fiberboard, cardboard, etc. had therein enclosed an inner, imperviousplastic or foil liner which was removable. While the prior artconstructions permitted reusing of the outer container by substitutingtherein a new inner liner, dificulties constantly arose in properlyplacing the liner into the casing because of wrinkles, creases and airpockets in the liner itself and in the abutting planes and points of theliner with its casing particularly at corners. Moreover, it wasnecessary to store the collapsed casings and liners separately at agreat sacrifice of space. In addition there was no convenient manner inwhich the casing could be immediately opened and provide means forsimultaneously filling the inner liner in the packaging plant. Lastly,increased labor costs resulted in separately filling the liner withmaterial and subsequently or prior thereto encapsulating the linerwithin the casing.

It therefore is an object of my invention to provide a compositecontainer wherein a liner is integrally combined within a casing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method for securing aflexible plastic liner within a casing whereby collapsing of the casingwill collapse the liner therein as a conveniently storable package.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method for securing aflexible plastic liner within a casing whereby opening of the casingwill immediately open the liner preparatory to filling the liner withmaterial at the packaging plant.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cmposite containerwherein a plastic liner i integrally secured within a casing andsecuring of the inner liner is easily ailorded without wrinldes, creasesor air pockets.

Another object of my invention is to provide a composite container whichis liquid-proof, dust-proof, moisture-proof and vapor-proof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a composite container whichmay be employed for shipping liquids, powders, granulars, including allfood and most chemical products.

Another object of my invention is to construct a composite containerwhich is adapted for fabrication using high production methods.

Another object of my invention is to provide a com posite containerwherein a flexible plastic liner is secured to an outer casing wherebythe composite container may be handled as an integral unit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a composite containerhaving a flexible plastic liner secured within a casing whereby thecasing may be further encapsulated within an outer shipping container ofcircular, rectangular, triangular, square or polygonal cross section.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of thecharacter described, that is easily and economically produced, which issturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in thedetails of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fullyunderstood from the following description, when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a composite container embodying myinvention about to be placed within an external shipping container ofrectangular configuration.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the composite container in collapsed position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the composite container in rectangularconfiguration and arranged in liquid carrying position with a pouringspout.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the composite container about to beplaced within an external shipping container of circular configuration,

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the composite container inpolygonal configuration.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the outer casing before assembly thereto of theinner liner.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the inner liner being incorporated upon theouter casing. I

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the composite container in assembledcollapsed position.

FIG. 10 is a bottom sectional view of the composite container in openedposition.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which similarreference characters refer to similar parts, I show a compositecontainer comprising a flexible inner liner, generally designated as A,and adhesively secured thereto, an outer casing generally designated asB,

The inner liner A is of a flexible plastic material such aspolyethylene, Pliolilm, metallic foil or aluminum, tin and the like.When the inner liner is of polyethylene, thermoplastic or thermosettingplastic material it is generally made as a continuous tube wherebyappropriate lengths of the tube may be cut and inserted Within thecasing B and the tubing heat sealed at the bottom portion along a line12 and correspondingly heat sealed at the upper portion along a line 14as shown in FIG. 3.

The casing B may be of fiberboard, cardboard or corrugated carton sheetand may be adhesively secured solely as a sleeve B1 as shown in FIGS. 1,2, 4 and 5 whereby the sleeve acts merely as a stiifener for the innerliner A and is adapted for subsequent insertion of the compositecontainer into an outer rectangular container C1 (see FIG. 1) or acircular outer container or drum C2 (see FIG. 4). The inner liner A alsomay be adhesively secured within a carton B having top and bottom flapsas shown in FIG. 3. When the inner liner A is secured either within thesleeve B1 or the carton B, the manner of integrating the compositecontainer is substantially the same as will be more fully describedimmediately hereinafter.

It is to be observed that the upper portion 14A may be retained inclosed condition without a heat seal entirely, or a partial heat sealmay be effected to enable filling of the container or for pouring thecontents therefrom.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, I show a fiat casing blank B1 having a pairof side walls 20 and 22 spaced from each other by contiguous end walls28 and 30. A fold line 29 scored in the blank separates the half endwall 28 from the half end wall 30 and a fold line 25 correspondinglyseparates the half end wall 24 from the half end wall 26. A corner foldline 31 is scored in the blank intermediate side Wall 20 and half endwall 36 whereas a corner line 21 is scored in the blank intermediate theside wall 29 and the half end wall 24. A third corner line 23 is scoredintermediate the half end Wall 26 and the side wall 22. A tab 32 ishingediy secured to the hall end wall 28 by a fourth corner line 27.

The liner A is folded fiat and adhesively placed on the blank so thatthe fold lines of the liner register with the fold lines 25 and 29respectively as shown in PEG. 8 whereby bottom and to portions 12A and14A project beyond the lateral edges of the sleeve blank B1substantially equidistant. The sleeve blank B1 is then folded alonglines 25 and 29 and adhesively secured to the opposite side of thecreased flattened tube A when the tab 32 overlaps the contiguous edge ofthe side wall 22. The tab 32 is also cemented to the contiguous edge ofthe side wall 22 to permit the sleeve casing B1 to encapsulate as a ringthe inner liner A, as shown in FIG. 9. This construction permits theformation of a rectangular carton such as a pack of cigarettes when thecasing sleeve B1 is Opened along the four corner lines 21, 23, 27 and 31respectively (see FIG. 10). Collapsing of the casing B1 along lines 25and 29 which define the lateral edges provides a fiat package such as isshown in FIG. 9. The inner liner A may be secured to the sleeve casingB1 by adhesive, heat sealing or cementing whereby the side and end Wallsof the casing are completely in superimposed planar abutment over theentire area with the adjacent outer surface of the inner liner A. It isalso to be observed that top and bottom flaps may be hinged to thelateral edges respective of the side and end walls of the sleeve toprovide a complete outer carton (see FIG, 3). The top and bottom flapsare not directly secured to the inner lining A.

In either the sleeve modification B1 or the composite carton B, theprojecting bottom and top portions 12A and 14A when folded downwardlyhave triangular creases 12B and 14B projecting respectively over theside Walls in fiat abutment therewith. These triangular corners may beturned upwardly and downwardly on the outside of the sleeve or may beturned down and under the bottom of the liner as may be practical in theparticular application. It is to be further observed that opening thecarton B or sleeve B1 into a rectangular configuration will likewisedraw the inner liner into the same configuration preparatory to fillingthe inner liner for packaging. When the sleeve B1 is inserted into arectangular outer container C1 as shown in FIG. 1, a perfectly alignedshipping container is provided with a flexible plastic liner, liquidtight, wrinkle free and exclusive of any air pockets so that the innerliner may receive and discharge its contents with uniform fiow andcapacity.

By scoring a fold line A in the central portion of the side Wall 20 andby scoring a fold line 22A in the side wall 22 an octagon annulus isformed as a sleeve about the inner liner A to enable the configurationof the sleeve to approach the circumference of a circle whereby thecomposite container may be inserted within a complementary circle drumC2 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. It is also to be observed that the sleeveB1 may be of semi-flexible material having two semi-circular sectionswhich may be collapsed flat against each other intermediate exteriorfolds or expanded into a circular configuration for second complementaryinsertion within the circular drum C2 (not shown).

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illustrative, rather than limiting,since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of theinvention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

A composite, variably-shaped, collapsible container assembly comprisinga flexible, collapsible liner movable from a flat collapsed positioninto a tubular open position, said liner having one strai ht open endand one straight closed end, said closed end including a straight lineseal parallel with said open end, a collapsible sleeve encircling saidliner and adhered thereto in face-to-face contact, said sleevecomprising a generally rectangular sheet including at least four panelshinged to each other by corresponding parallel fold lines extendingtransversely of said sheet in the same direction as the directionbetween the open and closed ends of said liner, said panels beinghingedly movable about said fold lines from a flat collapsed position toa polygonal open position, at least two opposed panels being eachprovided with an intermediate fold line parallel with said firstmentioned fold lines when said sleeve is in its sheet form, the open endof said liner extending beyond said sleeve in one direction while theclosed end of said liner extends beyond said sleeve in the oppositedirection, the line seal on said closed end extending between thelongitudinal planes of two opposed intermediate fold lines and formingoppositely positioned ears on the liner, said ears extending laterallybeyond the corresponding portions of the sleeve and being overfoldedupon and adhered to the outer surface of said sleeve, said liner beingmovable into and out of its tubular open position simultaneously withthe hinged movement of said sleeve around said first mentioned foldlines into and out of its polygonal position, and said liner beingmovable into and out of its collapsed position simultaneously with thehinged movement around said intermediate fold lines of the adjacentportions of said sleeve into and out of its collapsed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS2,342,158 Moore Feb. 22, 1944 2,396,565 Gardner Mar. 12, 1946 2,438,981Waters Apr, 6, 1948 2,536,529 Bergstein Jan. 2, 1951 2,879,933 Bergsteinet al Mar. 31, 1959

